Post-Game: Blood in the Water

Via the NHL

This was a game the Flames were never really in. 

Nor should they have been, really. San Jose’s one of the best teams in the league, and the Flames, while not god awful, are nowhere near “good”. The Sharks controlled the pace of the game literally the entire time. Despite all of that, the Flames were able to make it to overtime but ultimately lost 3-2 on former Flame Brad Stuart’s OT winner.

The First period was not as quick as the Flames would’ve liked it to be, methinks. Less than 2 minutes in, the Sharks already had 5 shots. One of those shots was from Logan Couture, and it found the back of the net just 1:32 in. The Flames weren’t able to reel the game in throughout the course of the period, giving up 14 EV shots (17 shots in total) while only mustering 3 themselves. Patrick Marleau would increase the Sharks lead with about 40 seconds to go in the period on a PP strike. 

The second was more of the same for the Flames, but without the goals against. Calgary did do a better job in keeping shots towards the outside in the second, bringing Reto Berra’s workload down a little. The totals didn’t come down, though, as the Sharks would add 11 more shots on the period compared to the Flames’ 3.

Calgary would look a lot better in the third, keeping the Sharks at bay until a couple of questionable calls shifted the balance in their favour. Kris Russell would score the first of the game for the Flames less than 10 seconds into the Flames’ second PP of the night to cut the lead to one. The goal also broke an 0-for-30 drought the Flames were having on the PP. The second goal for the Flames came off the stick of Mike Cammalleri (first round pick!), who in turn got his 8th of the year with less than 10 to go in the period. The remainder was back-and-forth, but a horrific giveaway at the end of the 3rd by TJ Brodie almost resulted in a goal against until Reto Berra and Lee Stempniak bailed him out. Shots were 6-6 in the period.

Overtime was short and not very sweet – just 1:19 in, Brad Stuart tipped a Joe Thornton shot past Reto Berra for the win.

I’m going to go with Kris Russell, who has looked mighty good out there the past few games. He and Wideman are getting the high ground, but even with that in mind he has looked good. Could he be a legit top-4 defenseman? Let’s hope so. 

 

 

An ugly effort tonight. Move on, boys.

The Flames play next on Thursday, as Dallas visits the ‘Dome at 7.